Advance U.S. International Diplomacy Efforts by Expanding Eligibility in the Embassy Science Fellows Program

Science has a unique ability to transcend borders in pursuit of common knowledge for the betterment of humanity. To increase technological and innovative progress, international collaboration is necessary and can be leveraged to advance foreign policy relationships. The United States (U.S.) Department of State’s (DoS) Embassy Science Fellows Program (ESFP) has a proven track record of advancing international diplomacy interests of the U.S. through scientific collaboration, yet the program is sorely underutilized despite the high demand for qualified science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experts by embassies around the world. To address the demand for STEM experts willing to serve DoS interests, we propose broadening ESFP eligibility to non-federal scientists. With this change, the DoS can recruit from a larger pool of experts and increase the probability that embassy needs for science diplomats can be met, augmenting the impact of the ESFP on U.S. diplomacy initiatives.